congatec modules based on AMD Geode LX 800 processors now available at least until 2019
Our partner congatec AG, a leading technology company for embedded computer modules, single board computers (SBCs) and embedded design and manufacturing (EDM) services, has extended the life cycle of their AMD processor-based ETX and XTX computer modules. The conga-ELX, conga-ELXeco and conga-XLX modules launched in 2005 and 2007 with AMD Geode™ LX 800 500 MHz processors, will now be supported at least until the end of 2019, extending the module availability from the usual 7 years to 12 – 14 years. This effectively doubles the standard availability of embedded x86 processor technology.
With at least 4 additional years of module availability, OEMs benefit from further return on investment on their PCI- and ISA bus-based individual designs, which were developed and brought to the market about 10 years ago. Retro designs for discontinued modules are also possible as the ETX specification is standardized and allows the use of processor modules from other manufacturers. In cases such as these, congatec offers personal integration support to simplify the design-in as far as possible for OEMs. Typical retro designs are found mainly in industrial control applications as well as HMI and thin clients using serial ports and/or field buses that were often connected via legacy interfaces such as the ISA bus.
The long-term support until 2019 for AMD Geode LX 800 processor-based ETX and XTX computer modules is possibly record-breaking in the history of x86 processors for open standard computer-on-modules. And the modules are still competitive today. Every year, congatec continues to ship more than 20 000 computer modules with AMD Geode LX 800 processors for the embedded market.